Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1887-04-08

out AIN VI aye ITO iS uhicaoOh"'
BILE. / intend to do as | please
There's your answer"
"Madam," said l, "my message
from your father is this; You are
to return home, under my escort,
at once"
"Perhaps l shall refuse to CO."
said she.
"Madam," said I, 81 am prepared
tor that"
And then / brought in the legal
hocuspocus with which l had armed
myself.
"Madam," said l, "though ofage,
1t is necessary for you to show just
cause before you can refuse to re-
turn to a parents roof. Nine days
are necessary for a quiet-claim.-
Meanwhile you are legally a minor.
Pending your proof before a magis-
trate, ! have authority to arrest you
and take you home. L do so in the
name of the law. l trust you will
not force me to put handouts upon
a lady's wrists or to call in four po-
lice officers and lodge you in Jail all
night; but, being under bODds to
your father, shall be obliged to
do so if you resist; otherwise, l
can offer you my arm, and escort
you, as a gentleman might, to the
railway station"
AS she listened, all the pretty red
color faded from Miss Matilda's
cheeks.
"What a dreadful thing the law
is - she said. 81 had no idea such
laws existed. Then l suppose |
must 60 with you. But I'm not a
baby. Show me your proofs
your papers-whatever gives you
your right
took from my pocket a lease
written on parchment and tied with
red tape.
1.-THE warrant, madame" l said.
| turned over the edge Of my
waistcoat and exhibited the pin Of
the Jolly Good Fellows Club of
which 1 am a member.
'My badge of Office, madam" |
said"
She turned paler still; she sat
down and began to cry. Suddenly
she wiped her eyes.
"May l write a note to tell some
body why l break an engagement
she said, "ADd before 60 down
to that stupid hole where papa
wants to bury me, will you 60 with
me to the dress makersP
"Certairiy," l said. To myself [
remarked "She will plan to escape
at the makers. must watch
her there"
Miss Matilda wrote the nOte.-
She sent it of before my eyes, and
without leaving the room, she call
ed a maid to bring her lace shawl
and a hat and veil.
"And my pearl-colored gloves,
Rose,n she added. "And, remem-
Der, pack everything nlcely.'
Then, having hidden good-by to
her weeping friend, who called her
papa "a BRUTE" and who refused to
be introduced to me, we started off.
As we left the house | watched her
closely. There was something in
her face l did not like, but felt
that l was master of the situation.
"Where does your dress-maker
live ?" 1 asked.
She gave me the address. 1t
was not a store-a fashionable set
of parlOrs in - street. There lay
the danger, and l knew it.
"Miss Matilda said |, "yOu will
forgive me for reminding you that l
cannot leave you even for a mo-
meDt."
"No need to remind me of that"
she answered in a tone that was not,
to say the least of it, very compli-
mentary.
We walked down the street to-
gether, and l, as an elderly gentle
man, felt that / might offer her my
arm. She was capable, i saw, Of
running away at any moment, but
she did not run. She sauntered
slowly, staring at the shops as she
went on, and making remarks about
the people we passed. She carried
a little bag in her hand, and tTirl-
ed it, as she walked, IN a reckless
sort of a manner.
What happened might have been
expected. At the turn Of the street
young man, dressed in respecta-
BILE clothing, darted up and snatch
ed the bag, and Immediately turned
and fed. However, he did not run
far, for before could utter a word
a stout policeman had darted from
a shop door, seized the thief and
held him, pale with terror and shak-
ing like an aspen Leaf, until we
walked up.
"Your bag, missus ~ asked the
policeman.
"Ob, yes" said Matilda. 81 am
so thankful you caught him. Oh,
dear, / felt so dreadfully! Oh, how
could you be so wicked ? But per
haps I'd better let you of, young
man, now Pve got the money back"
"see il it is safe, MISS said the
policeman.